The CFPB recently issued its final rule amending the timing requirements for transitioning between unmodified periodic statements and modified statements for consumers in bankruptcy. Initially proposed on October 4, 2017, the CFPB finalized the amendments without further revision. These changes will go into effect on April 19, 2018, along with the other servicing rule amendments adopted in 2016 that require sending periodic statements to consumers in bankruptcy. View Full Post

According to Belgian criminal law, providers of telecommunication services are obliged to cooperate if an investigating judge orders a wiretap measure. In November 2017, Skype was found guilty of failing to give essential information and provide a wiretap on Skype calls as the company was considered as a provider. View Full Post

On February 26, 2018, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) formally issued its proposed rule to charge new “user fees” under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The amended TSCA authorizes US EPA to charge fees for a variety of activities under TSCA sections 4, 5 and 6, totaling up to 25% of the overall costs for the agency to conduct these activities. View Full Post

As previously covered on this blog, Philadelphia’s 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on distributors of sweetened beverages (including soda and diet soda, non-100% fruit drinks; sports drinks; flavored water; energy drinks; pre-sweetened coffee or tea; and non-alcoholic beverages intended to be mixed into alcoholic drinks) was conceived by city leaders as a revenue generating measure to fund local health and education needs. View Full Post

DNS Belgium, the Registry operating the .BE country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), recently published an article warning domain name owners of the risks inherent in the practice of “snapping”. Although anyone can legitimately snap up an expired domain name, problems can arise when cybercriminals grab expired domain names and then use them in damaging ways, such as pointing them to fake retail websites or re-creating email addresses based on them. View Full Post

A few weeks ago an attorney complained about how time consuming it was to find specific deposition testimony in a huge transcript. He still does it by hand with the transcript and word index. There are two easy software solutions to this problem. View Full Post

You and your ex anticipate an amicable divorce. In an age of Pinterest and YouTube tutorials, a DIY divorce might seem appealing, especially if you enjoy visions of a harmonious post-divorce relationship. Your insistence on viewing this process through rose-colored glasses could prove devastating for the following reasons View Full Post

The Oregon legislature concluded the 2018 session last weekend. As we wrote last month, because 2018 is an even-numbered year, this was a short session lasting just 35 days. We predicted that not all four proposed cannabis bills would pass and that is exactly what happened: the proposed legislation on “special events” for marijuana licensees quickly fell by the wayside. View Full Post

As Florida’s 2018 legislative session comes to a close, its time to review legislative changes to Florida’s medical marijuana laws. First, Florida’s Senate passed HB 6049, This bill removes the requirement that the Florida medical marijuana license (Florida has a vertical licensing system) reserved for a Black farmer must go to a Black farmer who is a member of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association. View Full Post

Thursday night Dan Katz and Dan Linna hosted a meet up at Skadden, which had an array of talks ranging from access to justice to improving legal education. The meetup kicked off with Judy Perry Martinez, who spoke on how technology can improve lawyers and the way they service their clients. View Full Post

Ivy Grey, of PerfectIt, took some time to speak with Kevin O’Keefe, the CEO of LexBlog, at the ABA TechShow in 2018. She dives into her history with PerfectIt, a proofreading software for lawyers, and offers insight into she utilizes social media as a legal tech entrepreneur. View Full Post

Kevin O’Keefe, CEO of LexBlog, spoke with Ginny Allen, Vice President of GrowPath, at the 2018 ABA TechShow. The two discussed the origins of GrowPath, which launches next month, and Allen’s background as a nontraditional lawyer, and subsequent career in marketing and business development. View Full Post